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Auction: 390 - Renaissance Plaquettes and Commemorative Medals featuring the Neil A. Goodman Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 126

NORTHERN ITALY (late 15th-early 16th Century)
Allegorical Concave plaquette. Cast Bronze, 59mm. Winged youth at center holding a globe surmounted by a small figure that crowns him, on the right, a naked bearded man seated, on the left, a naked youth carrying a helmet, cuirass and shield; arms, putti and other figures around.
This piece was likely intended to be used as one half of a sword pommel and is possibly unique. The ornamental border is found on two other specimens, both sword pommels (Bardini 171B, and Pope-Hennessy NGA 358). The composition may be related to an ancient cameo depicting Icarus that once was in the collection of Lorenzo de'Medici and is now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (Toderi-Vannel, Bardini pp 144). The design is also seen in a carved roundel in the courtyard of Florence's Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and is one of a series of reliefs attributed to Bertdoldo di Giovanni that reproduce designs from ancient engraved gems.
Another comparative example is the gilt and silvered bronze relief dating to the last quarter of the 15th c. that was discovered in 2003 and sold by Christie's. Despite the winged figure in the center having been changed to represent Venus [with a miniature Cupid standing on her knee], the composition still recalls that of the Medici cameo as well as the present plaquette/pommel design. http:// www.engramma.it/eOS2/index.php?id_articolo=1550 http://images.alinari.it/img/480/BEN/BEN-F-000936-0000.jpg http://c8.alamy.com/comp/D9B2PH/mars-venus-cupid-and-vulcan-c-1480-1500-mars-godof-war-sits-with-D9B2PH.jpg. Very Fine.
From the Neil A. Goodman Collection

Sold for
$280

Starting price
$280